UNIT 2.

ELECTRONICS PROJECT #1

In the table below, provide a definition as to the function of each of the listed electrical
components, as well as an image of what each component looks like. In addition,
include the schematic for the component, if available or appropriate.
1.

RESISTANCE (Ohm)

Definition: How a device or material lowers the

electric current

Image

Schematic / Symbol

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

How can electrical resistance be useful? It can be

useful because it can lower the current so other
device can handle the current.

2.

CURRENT (Amperes)

Definition: a flow of electricity from the movement

of electrically charged particles

How can current be increased or decreased?

3.

VOLTAGE (Volts)

Definition: an electromotive force or potential

difference expressed is volts.
How can voltage be increased or decreased?
Add resistance, depending on the circuit, the
voltage will go up or down
What is the advantage of high voltage?
High voltage minimizes loss of power when
transporting electricity

4.

POWER (Watts)

Definition: Energy produced by mechanical or

electrical means

5.

Image

Schematic

SWITCH

Definition: a device for making and breaking the

current in a circuit

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

What are some different types of switches?

SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, 2P6T

6.

SPDT SWITCH

Definition: A simple changeover switch

What would you use a SPDT switch for?

To change the path of a circuit

7.

DPDT SWITCH

Definition: Equivalent to two SPDT switches

controlled by one mechanism

What would you use a DPDT switch for?

To change of the path a circuit

8.

INDUCTOR (COILS & RELAYS)

Definition: a component in an electric or electronic

circuit that possesses inductance
What can a coil be used for in a circuit? It can be
Store electrical energy in the form of magnetism
What can a relay be used for in a circuit?
To control the circuit

9.

RESISTOR

Definition: a device that resists the current going

through it.

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

How does it change a current? It lowers the

current

10.

TRANSISTOR

Definition: a device that amplifies electrical

signals

What does a transistor do in electrical circuit?

It amplifies electrical signals

11.

CAPACITOR

Definition: a device that stores electrical charge

What does a capacitor do in electrical circuit?

It stores energy in an electrostatic field

12.

DIODE

Definition: a device allowing electricity to flow in

only one direction

What does a diode do in electrical circuit?

It allows electricity to flow in one direction

13.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)

Definition: A two lead semiconductor light source

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

What does a LED do in electrical circuit? A led

provides light

14.

CONDUCTOR

Definition: An object or materiel allowing flow of

electricity in one or more directions

15.

CIRCUIT

Definition: A path of an electrical current

16.

STATIC ELECTRICITY

Definition: a stationary electric charge

Where would you find static electricity? Anywhere

there is an electric imbalance

Why is static electricity a problem in electronics?

Certain components may be sensitive to static
discharge

17.

CURRENT ELECTRICITY

Definition: a flow of electric charge

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

How is current electricity different than static?

Current electricity can move
List several ways that current electricity is used.
It is used to power electronics
It is used to cool and heat homes

18.

DIRECT CURRENT (DC)

Definition: a current flowing in one direction

In what equipment is DC current used?

Batteries and solar panels

What does DC Current look like?

19.

AC CURRENT

Definition: a current that reverses its direction

many times a second

In what equipment is AC current used? Power

supplies
What does AC current look like?

20.

THREE PHASE CURRENT (3-Phase)

Definition: Have at least three conductors carrying

AC currents

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

In what equipment is 3-phase current used?

AC generators and transportation
Why is it used? It is more efficient than AC

21.

POLARITY

Definition: The property of having poles

What happens when you reverse polarity?

The current flows in the opposite direction

22.

ANALOG SIGNAL

Definition: A system with a continuously varying

signal

Where are analog signals used? For analog

devices, video and audio recording

23.

DIGITAL SIGNAL

Definition: A electrical signal converted to a

system of bits

Where are digital signals used? In digital

equipment

24.

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC)

Definition: an electronic circuit formed on a small

piece of semiconducting material

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Where might an IC be used? In complex circuits

What does it do? Provides a small circuit

25.

PHOTO-DIODE

Definition: A device that converts light into

electricity

Where might a photo-diode be used?

CD players and smoke detectors.
What does it do? It converts light to electricity

26.

PHOTOCELL

Definition: A light controlled resistor

Where is a photo-diode used? In small circuits

including toys and gadgets
What does it do? Lower the currents based on the
amount of light present

27.

THERMISTOR

Definition: A resistor whose resistance is

dependent on temperature

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

How does it work? The resistance changes with

temperature

28.

THERMOCOUPLE

Definition: a device made from two different

metals forming electrical junctions at different
temperatures

How does it work? One end of two wires of

dissimilar metals is heated

29.

H-BRIDGE

Definition: is an electronic circuit that enables a

voltage to be applied across a load in either
direction

How does it work? It contains four switching

elements, with a load in the center

30.

ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROLLER (ESC)

Definition: is an electronic circuit with the purpose

to vary an electric motor's speed

How does it work? It switches the power on and

off at controlled ratiots

31.

SERVO CONTROLLER

Definition: A circuit used to control servo motors

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

How could you use a servo controller? (2 ways)

To control servo motors
To track commanded input

32.

PULSE WIDTH MODULATOR (PWM)

Definition: A circuit that uses pulse width

modulation

What is Pulse Width Modulation anyway? A

modulation technique to encode a message into a
Pulsing signal

33.

SERIAL SIGNAL

Definition: the process of sending data one bit at

a time

What does a serial signal look like?

How does it differ from a Parallel signal?

Parallel links several streams, while serial links
one stream

34.

USB SIGNAL

Definition: a standard defining cables, connectors

and protocols used in a bus

What does a USB signal look like?

How is it different from serial and parallel?

The signal pattern is different
What is the distance limit in can move over wire?
5 meters

35.

DC MOTOR

Definition: a machine which converts electricity to

mechanical energy

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

What could you use a DC motor for? Powering

small fans
How does a DC Motor work (think stator)
A brushless DC motor uses magnets in the rotor,
and electromagnets for the stator.

36.

SERVO MOTOR

Definition: an actuator allowing precise control of

a position

Where would you use a servo motor? (3 uses)

Robotics, Conveyor belts, Metal cutting

37.

STEPPER MOTOR

Definition: a brushless DC motor providing a full

rotation into a number of equal steps

What is the advantage of a stepper motor?

Low maintenance

38.

HMI

Definition: the space where interactions between

humans and machines occur

What is an example of a sophisticated HMI?

39.

TV VIDEO SIGNAL COAX CABLE

Definition: a cable that has an internal conductor,

surrounded by an insulator, surrounded by a
conducting shield

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

Image

Schematic

What does a video signal look like?

The look of the signal varies.
How many wires do you need to carry it?
The amount varies
How do the two formats differ (NTSC and PAL)?
NTSC delivers 30fps using 525 lines.
PAL delivers 25fps using 625 lines.

40.

DIGITAL VIDEO (DV) SIGNAL

Definition: video encoded in digital data

How is this different than an analog video signal?

Digital signals can be filter, resulting in a cleaner
picture
What are the advantages / disadvantages?
Digital video is cheaper

41.

HIGH DEFINITION (HD) VIDEO SIGNAL

Definition: video of higher resolution

How is this different than a standard video signal?

HD video has a higher resolution a quality
What is the advantage, if any?
Higher video quality

42.

PROGRESSIVE vs. INTERLACED VIDEO DISPLAY (TVs)

Definition: Progressive display

A way of displaying moving images with the lines
in each frame drawn in sequence

Definition: Interlaced Display

A technique for doubling the perceived frame rate
of a video

What is the advantage, if any, of these two

different display methods on a TV?
Progressive scan appears more realistic

Image

Schematic

UNIT 2. ELECTRONICS PROJECT 1.2

Identify the components?

Using the information contained in your completed table, above, identify and describe each of
the electrical components contained in the display. Each one is identified with a letter. Place
the name of the component in the correct space number.

E.g
.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
X
Y
Z

Component

Specification of the component

Resistor

15 K (15 kilo-Ohms)